Corey Weberling believes Bike to Work Week gave him the “kick in the pants” he needed to get rolling.

The 30-year-old Mansfield man, who likes to keep active, cycled to and from work on a Trek Verve 1 bicycle loaned from Y-Not Cycling & Fitness during Bike to Work Week, celebrated this year on May 13-19.

“It was one of those things where I was like, ‘I should totally do that,’” he said.

Weberling works as a communications specialist at the Mansfield Richland County Public Library.

“Since I have a desk job and I sit around most of the day, after work is when I work out and try to just get active,” he said.

Weberling was able to get a jumpstart on working out during his 10-minute bicycle commute to work.

“It’s not too much longer than my drive with stoplights and things like that,” he said.

Although it was a little challenging at first to adjust his morning routine, he appreciated the opportunity to get some exercise in before the workday commenced.

“It feels good to just start my day off active instead of waiting to get home from work,” he said. “It definitely woke me up. I was more alert when I first got there.”

Weberling could be spotted cruising through downtown on a bicycle Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (which was Bike to Work Day). He opted for his car on Monday because of the rainy weather and again on Thursday because he picked his wife up from the airport right after work.

In 2017, the Census Bureau estimated that about 837,000 workers in the U.S. bicycled to work, down from about 865,000 in 2012 and up from 665,000 in 2007. The Bureau also estimated 15,851 Ohioans bicycled to work that same year (compared to an estimated 4,983,891 car, truck or van commuters).

Weberling saw what a negative effect an inactive lifestyle can have on the body during his college years. Since then, he strives to make fitness a part of his routine and enjoys running, lifting, yoga, among other forms of exercise. By maintaining his fitness regimen, he said he has more energy and his mood is improved.

“It just makes life better,” he said.

Bike to Work Week may have started a new trend for Weberling, who said he will likely hop back on a bicycle for his commute to and from work.

“I think if it’s not going to rain and it’s nice out then I think I would definitely think, 'Oh, maybe I should bike to work today,'” he said.

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